In light of the recent Paris killings, in relation to the Charlie Hebdo publication - a satirical weekly newspaper, questions need to be asked.

As a person who undertakes historical research - the quality of past media - particularly newspapers (from early periods of Australia) were of a magnificent standard re content and format.

When you compare that, to the media (in general) of today, with a strong element of stories based around advertising, cheap headlines, biased reporting and columnists - where does that leave us?

After these recent attacks, nearly all sections of media and political leaders came out in 'defense' of media and their right to free speech.

Therefore I was very surprised, in fact impressed, from a representative from Crikey questioning media and what they put out into the general sphere - and how this may need to be reviewed.

So why is commercial media of today still seen as 'treasure' by some, where as for me, I don't feel I gain much from it and would consider it 'trash'?

At one stage I read the paper, as the news on TV was so frivolous and redundant. Now with click-bait all the online newspapers are probably worse than commercial TV news. I was in the process of working out a new format to keep informed but lately I have considered not bothering.

There is so much more words out there and so much less actual information. We have become so verbose and hyperbolic that nothing has any meaning outside entertainment. Everything is entertainment, and entertainment is everything.

I don't know where we'll end up from here.
I cant imagine a news source these days that even pretends to be unbiased, let alone even attempts to be. News is all so unabashedly partisan polemic commentary. Or voyeurism; Grief porn and celebrity worship. This is just the small amount of stuff that isn't just advertising.

We need to step back and consider what is the point of being 'informed', and is it even possible. Given that we all have our own unique frame of reference.

I have no desire to wallow over the deaths of people I have never met, or read along to the latest official fiction.

What is the point of knowing how you're being screwed, how you're indirectly screwing others via your apathy or general lack of intellect.

Just go about your life and enjoy the show I say, I cant see any kind of solution to filter through all the noise.

Well said, Houellebecq, thank you!

Enjoy your own life, your peace and quiet while attending to the media is [still?] not compulsory.

However, I would still keep some watch here and there, just to be informed about coming evil decrees from the government so I can find ways to dodge them in time or else flee the country before it's too late.

Once upon a time, we had the old copy boy/girl system. Kids had to work their way up from go-for to cub reporter, to real journalists. They got knocked around a bit, & saw a bit of life on the way.

Many of these were pretty useless, but some very good perceptive people floated to the top. They had enough experience of life, by they time they made "reporter", that they could usually see straight through spin & bulldust.

Today we get the more literary ones from high school, usually girls, as the subjects are more to their liking, who go off to a university journalism course.

After the usually left academics have had some years of indoctrination of them, they are suddenly "reporters" with so little idea of life, they are easily conned.

The attractive ones gravitate to TV, where the hairdo & makeup are more important than understanding.

This is why perhaps we see a big increase in human interest stories. What now is expected to pass as news is becoming too like the garbage served up in those cringe worthy morning shows.

It sure isn't treasure, so I guess it's the other thing.

Thank god for the net.

Figures are showing a large decline in young people accessing media - particularly printed media, and including that on television. A 2012 (overseas) study has shown that a decrease in the taking in of information from the media, among young people between the ages of 16 and 30 years, now stands at 28.8%, in regard to online or "traditional" newspapers.

Three out of every four individuals within this age bracket (are more likely) to use social networking sites, even more than television to be kept informed.

The study indicated that 77.4% of young people within the age range (as per above) will now also use social networks to keep informed.

This raises a range of challenges in terms of media (in terms of quality information going to people of younger ages, and being able to access information in the future. However, lower standards in media, can also have potential positive elements in terms of what I would describe as 'personal media' or the 'learning of skills'.

People can potentially gain more through education, in terms of information, that they can then take further afield either personally within themselves, the community or the workforce (or all three) and can achieve more in terms of information gathering - and the report highlights how many young people refuse to pay for online media, like newspapers for example.

There will however still be a need for information put out into the public realm, but if media is turning into a rustic, falling apart 1950's style television set - seen as having no value by many - it will need to get its act together to 'turn itself back on' - but with the recent producers of the Paris production wanting to print 'as per normal' and allowing no time for reflection - the media not willing to address change will continue to be a ongoing problem.

Knowledge is useless without wisdom. Why is it that we are the most educated generation and yet we can't keep a wedding vow, we murder the unborn, we allow islamic terrorism to thrive in our country, teen suicide is at horrendeous rates. The more money we spend on education and in getting degrees the dummer our society has become. Journalist have contributed to the dumming down. Generally what the media deals out is trash. Personally I think one positive is social media where at least their is a range of views instead of group think usually required for Government funding. Why do you think the rhetoric around the whole world is that Islam is a religion of peace. How can so many be so dumb swallowing the gw myth. Thank God for a few brave journalist.

Pre internet, the general public were reliant on what was published in Newspaper, or on the radio, tv.

Typically the media could be used to form and shape public opinion and was used as a tool for propaganda.

Runner,

Wisdom is the ability to think and act using knowledge, experience, understanding, common sense, and insight - and part of this involves education and learning from others. After all you can't get the above from nowhere. Somebody needs to provide it. Read the link I put below, which came from the early media of Australia.

Wolly B,

Looking at early media in Australia, like newspapers for example - some stories read like poetry, are very descriptive (as they were so passionately written) - and you could tell by the writing and the scripture.

Visit: http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/31750358

The media of today, does not come to this standard. I get stories telling me about after Christmas sales for example (because of huge advertising from department stores) in a newspaper.

The link highlights a story in and around where I live - and see the point of difference of today's media. If the general media, continues the way it does - people will not know much about "now" in the future. Poor media equals poor information and social media isn't always better in terms of accuracy or quality.

From what I can tell Charlie Hedbo is just a juvenile trash mag that sucks in its readership by ticking off as many people as it can.
That of course is no excuse for the appalling bloodbath that happened in Paris but it shouldn't be any surprise that if you purposely target a bunch of deranged psychopaths often enough something bad is eventually going to happen.
Should the management of Charlie Hedbo also be prosecuted for knowingly putting their innocent employees in danger?

If we look right back to as far as world war 1 we will see that the media had a huge part to play in inciting violence and war mongering and today is no different.
It is no accident that politicians and those that work in the media are two of the most despised people on the planet.